Sorry - been busy!!

Sorry I haven't been around for a while but I've been busy trying to get all my Christmas cards made. I'm nearly done (only got about 10 left to go!!) and will post the finished cards on here after Christmas once I'm back from my three-week break over in Dublin with the in-laws.

There was also the small matter of the Sergeants' Mess Christmas Ball which was on Saturday (where we won a 22" LCD TV in the Christmas draw - not bad for a night's work!). I managed to get a beautiful dress (had to be floor-length). No doubt someone will post some photos on Facebook before long so I'll let you know if any surface!!!

Well, I'd better get back to my Christmas cards - we're going over to Dublin on Thursday so haven't got very long, especially as I'll have to do all the sorting out and the packing!!!

I've only got one more post before I go away (my Design Team entry for the Flutterby Crafts Monthly Blog Challenge), but I want to take the time now to say a big MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone, but especially to those who have become good friends over the last few months.
Have a good New Year too - and remember, everything in moderation!!!

A birthday card for Alex (Eisbaerin)

Here is the birthday card that I made for Alex (Eisbaerin) for her birthday on Sunday. It sounds like she had a lovely day!!

I made the card to double as a wallet card as I wanted to reciprocate all the lovely images she has sent me over the past few months. I haven't made up for everything but I hope it goes someway to say thank you!!!

The image is a cute little Docrafts stamp, which I coloured with Whispers Brushstroke markers and a green Impress re-inker.

The little tag was 3D'd to add dimension, and the mouse image was matted onto lime green card from the DCWV Brights cardstack.

The patterned papers are from the K&Co Amy Butler Belle paper pad, and a length of green organza ribbon was attached across the pieces of paper and a knot was added.

The sentiment was stamped using one of the circles from the HOTP Sentiments set and also matted onto lime green DCWV card, cut using the Fiskars Shapecutter and circles template. A small piece of ribbon was attached to it to make it look like it is hanging.

A lime green Papermania brad was attached through a pink paper flower from Crafty Cow and attached over the corner of the image.

A couple of Penny Black Christmas Cards

I'm starting to get very worried now that I'm not going to get my Christmas cards finished in time to post them!! I've got about 35 still to make. I managed to miss the last posting date to Australia, but hopefully I'll meet the US/Canada one on Wednesday!

I managed to get another couple of cards made today, using a couple of Penny Black images that I received in an image swap from Judith B over on the docrafts forum.

The first is using the ice skating Hedgie from the Penny Black Christmas Critters set. The image was watercoloured using Whispers Brushstroke markers and the hat highlighted with Anita's Metallic White 3D Dimensional paint.

The image was then placed beneath a slide mount covered with patterned paper from the HOTP Christmas Creative pack, as was the mini tag.

The greeting was taken from the HOTP Christmas Motifs stamp set, stamped using Versafine Onyx Black ink and cut out and matted onto the tag.

Red patterned paper from the HOTP Christmas Creative pack was matted onto gold mirror card as was a matching piece of green paper from the paper pack.

Red embroidery thread was threaded through the tag and attached in the corner of the card.

The second is using another Penny Black image from the Christmas Critter set, this time the Carol Singing Mice.
The image was watercoloured using Whispers Brushstroke markers and highlighted with clear Sakura Glaze pen on the lantern and clear Sakura Stardust pen on the gloves and scarf.

A frame was created from dark green card using the Fiskars Shapecutter and the Frames#1 template.

The patterned papers are from the HOTP Christmas Creative pack, and matted onto gold mirror card.

The greeting panel was cut out using the HOTP Labels template, and stamped using Brilliance Rocket Red ink and a greeting stamp from the Dovecraft Studio G Snow Phrases mini stamp set. The snowflakes were taken from the HOTP Christmas Motifs set. The greeting panel was then matted onto a shape cut out using the HOTP Tags template.

Small clear faux gems were adhered to the corners of the frame and to the centres of the snowflakes.

I've been given an award!!!

I received this award from the lovely Babz back in October and completely forgot all about it.


I only realized I'd forgotten when I saw that I was up to 100 posts, but only 99 were showing, so technically this is my 100th post!!!

Poor Babz is suffering quite a bit of upheaval at the moment - not least because she's moving house - and country!! She's had to pack up all her crafting stash (I know what that's like, I had to do it myself last year!) and weirdly enough the removals people came and packed our house up on the 13th December just like Babz - I know this because I was unloading the van on the 14th - my wedding anniversary!!!!


So, pop over to Babz's lovely blog and leave her some messages of moral support, if, for no other reason than she can't stroke her lovely papers at the moment!!!


The rules of this award state that I can pass it on to six of my crafting friends. This is going to be hard to narrow it down to just six!!!

But, the six I have chosen are:

Tara
Alex
Katy
Julie
Tracy
Sarah

I'm sure they've probably already been given this award, what with me being so late in the day passing it on (let's face it, it's only just still Autumn!!), but I wanted them to know that I consider them good friends (some only 'virtual', but friends nonetheless!!)

My 100th post!!! Another Christmas card

This is my 100th post - I can't believe it!!


I've made another Christmas card in my mammoth task - hopefully it's not an impossible task to make the last 35 cards before they have to be posted!!


The focal image of this card is the Hampton Arts 'Wreaths' image, which was very kindly supplied by Loretta in a forum image swap.


The image was watercoloured using Whispers Brushstroke markers and highlighted with white Sakura Souffle pen. It was cut into a tag shape using the HOTP Tags#2 template and matted onto dark green card.


The greeting was taken from the HOTP Christmas Sentiments stamp set and stamped using Brilliance Graphite Black ink. This was also matted onto dark green card and both panels were edged with gold paint pen.


The patterned papers are from the HOTP Christmas Creative pack.


So, here's to another 100+ posts!!!!

Four New Christmas Card Designs

I've been away for a couple of days but I have tried to be busy (despite being sidetracked by a bit of shopping - I needed a dress for the Mess Christmas Ball, some rugby, some poker and a bit more rugby!!! - I won the poker by the way - amazingly, cos I still don't know how to play properly).

Anyway, I've managed to knock out 15 cards, so I'm getting there slowly but surely!!!


The first design is the Pink and Green Tall Stylized Christmas Tree.


The Christmas Tree image was stamped and coloured using Sakura Stardust pens.
The sentiment was stamped using stamps from both the HOTP Christmas Sentiments and Motifs stamp sets.

Faux stitching was added around the edges of both panels too, and both panels were matted onto white and cerise pink card.

The patterned papers are from the Anita's Naughty and Nice Paper pad.


The second design was the Pink and Green Stylized Christmas Tree.

The image, from a Dovecraft Studio G mini stamp set, was stamped and colour was added using the Whispers Brushstroke markers.


Faux stitching was added around the edges of the panel and this was then matted on to lime green and cerise pink cardstock.


The patterned papers, from the Anita's Naughty and Nice paper pad, were layered and a strip of Dovecraft printed grosgrain ribbon attached over the top.


The sentiment was taken from the HOTP Christmas Motifs stamp set.

The third card design is the Glittered Pink and Green Ornate Christmas Tree.

The Papermania Ornate Christmas Tree stamp was stamped and silver embossed four times onto cerise pink, lime green and white cardstock.

The different layers were cut out and glittered using DecoArt Crystal Glamourdust and Cerise Pink glitter. The white layer was also coloured using Sakura Stardust pens.

The different pieces were layered up and matted onto white and lime green cardstock.

The greeting, from the HOTP Christmas Sentiments stamp set, was silver embossed, cut out and edged with silver paint pen and matted onto lime green and cerise pink cardstock.

The last card I made is the Blue and Brown Rudolph with Presents card.

The Anita's Rudolph with Presents image was stamped and watercoloured using Whispers Brushstroke markers. His nose was coloured using a red Sakura Stardust pen.

This was matted onto chocolate brown card and light blue mirror card, as was the sentiment which is from the See D's Christmas Messages stamp set.

The patterned papers were taken from the HOTP Ultimate Christmas Creative Pack, each piece highlighted with clear Sakura Stardust pen.

Oh yes, to get back to the poker......

Last night, seven squaddies (only one of whom didn't know how to play poker) and myself sat down at the table and (despite a couple of protestations of collusion!) there was only myself and DH left at the table with chips so we shared the pot - at least that's what I told DH we'd do with the winnings!!! Cost us £5 each for us to play, and came home with £40!!! Not bad for a night's work!!

I've been given three awards!!!

I've been given three awards.

The first is the Kreativ Blogger award that Jackie gave to me. So a big thank you to Jackie. Much appreciated!!

The rules for this award are as follows:

The winner may put the logo on their blog.
You must add a link to the person who sent you the award.
You must nominate 5 blogs, adding links to their blogs.
You must leave a message for your nominees on their blogs to let them know.

So, my 5 nominees are:

Caroline
CarlyAnn
Debby
Sarah
Natalie

I have also been awarded the I Love Your Blog Award by Alex. Thank you very much Alex - this is high praise from you!!
Apparently I have to pass this on to 7 people.

So, I am passing this on to:

Jo
Kim
Sarita
Lorraine
Becky
Taylor
Leslie

I have also been given the Proximity Award by Lisa and Katy. So a double thank you to you both.
The award means that this blog invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to 8 bloggers who must choose 8 more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

So, the eight people I shall be giving this to are:

Tara
Alex
Julie
Katy
Clare
Jo
Janet
Tracy

Well, better let these people know that they've got an award!
Might take me some time!!!

Pink and Purple Tilda with Sledge

Tilda was stamped and watercoloured with Whispers Brushstroke markers, cut out (not square though due to the way I had stamped them out!), matted onto black card and highlighted with Craft Planet Irridescent Sparkle Glitter Glue and Anita's Metallic White 3D dimensional paint.

Two co-ordinating papers from the DCWV Rose Tinted Christmas Multi Stack were cut to size and were attached to the card blank.

A file tab was cut from matching violet card to the card blank using a Sizzlet die, and the sentiment stamped using a stamp from the HOTP Christmas Motifs set and Versafine Onyx Black Archival Pigment ink. This was attached behind the Tilda image and attached to the card front.

A scroll was stamped over the snowflake paper using a stamp from the HOTP Christmas scrolls stamp set and highlighted with Anita's Metallic White 3D dimensional paint.

I've been tagged - again!

I have been tagged by the very talented Caroline. I am honoured as I love her cards - in fact, so much so that I've copied and pasted a few of her designs onto a sheet as inspiration for my Christmas cards this year!!!

I have to share 7 random or weird facts about myself - then tag 7 people & let them know they have been tagged!

So, seven new weird and wonderful facts about myself........

1. I hate bananas - hate the smell, hate the texture and the taste - yet, I seem to be able to cope with artificial banana flavourings - and I love Pisang Ambon!!!

2. I make a mean curry - it's so good, that squaddies want to eat it!! (Not just random ones, DH is in the army!!!)

3. I worked as a teaching assistant in a German Hauptschule (like a comprehensive) teaching English for 10 months as part of my German Degree course. It confirmed my thoughts that I didn't want to be a teacher!!! It was very hard work, with a classroom of 30% Turkish kids who didn't even speak German, let alone English!! (Teaching the 6-8 year olds was good fun though, especially playing Bingo!)

4. My favourite cocktail is Pina Colada - although I'm up for trying new ones!!!

5. I'm a sports addict - but only as a spectator! I love watching football, rugby, tennis, ice skating, athletics, cricket - but have only watched rugby live. I'd love to go and watch my beloved Spurs play at White Hart Lane (especially if it was the day we beat Arsenal!!)

6. I worked in a jewellery shop between finishing uni and getting married, so I'm quite good at identifying semi-precious stones (we didn't do gemstones!).

7. I collect Denby Greenwich - but hardly ever use it!! It's for special occasions, don't you know!

So, there are my seven facts and here are the seven people I'm tagging:

CarlyAnn

Sarah

Sarita

Tracy

Debby

Clare

Lorraine